Maximising funding opportunities is behind a decision to
change the ownership of the Mayfair Theatre in South Dunedin.

The theatre has been administered by the Dunedin Opera
Company since 1967 but ownership of the facility was
officially handed over yesterday to the newly established
Mayfair Theatre Charitable Trust.

Dunedin Opera Company chairman Murray Davidson said running
the theatre and the opera company had at times divided the
focus of the organisation, because the theatre and the opera
company required funding from the same charity organisations.

Only one application for funding could be sent by each
organisation and in the past, it had meant the Dunedin Opera
Company had to choose whether it would make a funding
application for the opera or the theatre.

Mayfair Theatre Charitable Trust chairman Geoff Patton said
having a dedicated group to run the Mayfair as a community
theatre meant the trust could now apply for funds to restore,
develop and earthquake-strengthen the facility from the same
charity organisations as the Dunedin Opera Company.

Mr Davidson said he was delighted with the change.

''In some ways, it means we can focus on our core purpose -
opera.''

Mr Patton said it was the theatre's centenary this year and
the trust was now busy planning a series of events to
celebrate the milestone during the year ahead.

The theatre was opened in December 1914 as the 862-seat King
Edward Picture Theatre, but was closed in September 1966.

It was bought by the Dunedin Opera Company in 1967 and has
since been registered as a category 2 New Zealand Historic
Places Trust building.